Letter from Charles William Stayner, 22 December 1896
Salt Lake City, Utah,
Presidents Woodruff, Cannon and Smith.
Dear Brethren:
Having secured the agency for the Graph-
ophone and other talking machines, for Utah, the idea is
presented to my mind that it would be very valuable to the
rising generation if we could record on special cylinders the
tesytimonyies of yourselves and other leading Brethren, so that
with your own voices you might speak to those who have not the
privilege of hearing you now in person, but who would be edified
and strengthened by your testimonies in the future. Partic-
ularly am I desirous of securing that of President Woodruff. How
valuable his testionmony would be in years to come, is apparent
when we consider that the testimony of the Prophet Joesph and
those of the other Presidents of the Church who have passed
away, would give us untold pleasure, if we could hear them now.
They would be priceless, and the benefit to be derived from
hearing their testimonies of the truth, by those who never saw
these great men, would be beyond ^present^ conception. I have some
excellent machoines, and would like the privilege of an interview
with you, when I would bring one and you could speak into it.
I would supply one copy of each record for the Hoistorian's
Office, for preservation, and only ask the privilege of keeping
others like them for my own use. No charge will be made for
